The landscape of top young American soccer talent is ever-changing. Last year’s list of the best under-21 prospects for the U.S. Men’s National Team featured several players who have since graduated to become regulars for the senior squad. While that means a thinner crop of elite prospects this time around, it also signals the immense progress of the USMNT youth movement. So who are the new faces poised to break through and lead the Stars and Stripes into the future? We rank the top 15 USMNT prospects age 21 and under, from wunderkinds in Europe to homegrown stars in MLS.
Tier 3: Can They Make It In Europe?
The leap from top prospect to bona fide USMNT contributor is never guaranteed. But these five youngsters are knocking on the door of Europe’s biggest leagues:
- Kevin Paredes, 21, Winger, Wolfsburg: With nearly 2,000 Bundesliga minutes at a young age, Paredes tops our list despite an injury-hit season.
- Caleb Wiley, 20, Left Back, Strasbourg (On Loan From Chelsea): The ex-Atlanta United standout is finding his footing on loan in Ligue 1.
- Paxten Aaronson, 21, Midfielder, FC Utrecht (On Loan From Eintracht Frankfurt): Aaronson has been a revelation in the Eredivisie, but can he make the jump to a top-5 league?
Rounding out Tier 3 are 18-year-old Augsburg center-back Noahkai Banks, who made his Bundesliga debut, and Koln forward Damion Downs, 20, who’s lighting up the German second division.
Tier 4: How Do You Judge Any Of Them?
This group is high on potential but short on professional minutes. Chelsea goalkeeper Gaga Slonina, 20, is immensely talented but in limbo after a terminated loan spell. Rokas Pukstas, 20, is a regular for Croatian league leaders Hajduk Split. Dortmund’s Cole Campbell and Barcelona’s Diego Kochen have the pedigree but need to turn their fleeting flashes of brilliance into something more substantial.
Tier 5: MLS’ Best and Brightest
The Philadelphia Union’s Quinn Sullivan and Jack McGlynn lead a list of MLS-based prospects who are putting up numbers well beyond their years:
- Sullivan, 20, slightly edges McGlynn, 21, as the Union’s top young gun.
- Brian Gutierrez, 21, has been a analytics darling for Chicago since his teens.
- Cade Cowell, 21, traded San Jose for Chivas in Liga MX this year.
Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady, 20, already has two seasons as an MLS starter under his belt. And don’t sleep on RSL’s 21-year-old midfield maestro Diego Luna.
“Chances are that someone in this group goes on to become a solid USMNT contributor over the next few years.”
Ryan O’Hanlon, ESPN
The USMNT prospect pool is ever-evolving. Today’s unheralded youth could be tomorrow’s World Cup heroes. While the U21 crop may seem thin compared to last year’s list, bet on at least a few of these precocious prodigies to blossom into America’s next soccer superstars.
